Chapter 33 Bronson

The ice in my tumbler rattles as the takeoff begins. I catch a glance at Nicole who has the same fearful face as before when we first arrived in San Francisco.
“Are you sure you’re going to be alright?” I ask placing the glass down on the small round table beside the chairs. Nicole has told not only me but Rand, Landen and Jim, who have also voiced their concerns with her this morning. We all told her our opinion; Landen even had the idea of giving her Dramamine. But like I knew she would, Nicole shut us all down with a single narrowed gaze.
“I’m fine. Now that I know what it feels like, I’m not as afraid.”
The plane jets around as we rise through the air and I look back over to see Nicole already squirming. Her eyes are shut and her breathing heavily. I unbuckle and make my way over to her chair, kneeling beside her and taking her body, pulling it into mine as far as her seatbelt will allow.
“So stubborn.” I mumble and it clears the air enough for her to giggle.
“Pot, meet kettle.” She states with humor.
Her eyes are still shut but her smile is now bright. I can feel her arms go around my neck and pull me closer. I can smell the fruity shampoo in her hair, can smell the same perfume she had on from the night before where I enjoyed myself far more than I’m willing to admit.
“Sir, we’re clear to stand if you’d like me to escort Miss Myers to the cabin?” I turn and glare over at Landen whose eyes are located on Nicole. She doesn’t lift her head from my neck, and I don’t move from my spot of protecting her from everything around her that wishes her harm. I shouldn’t feel the way I do from Landen, but I hate how often his eyes wonder to her, towards her body.
“It’s alright Bronson, I’m alright.” I can feel Nicole lifting her head from my shoulder and when I look down, she is giving me a reassuring smile. I sit back but do not take my arms away from her body. It feels too good, too perfect.
“Are you sure Nicole.”
“Haven’t I told you to call me Nikki?” She jokes with a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her cheeks. I can see the coat of sweat around her face and neck, and her blue eyes are dancing around with pain.
“Maybe you should go and lie down Nikki.”
“That’s a little better.” I stand, extend my hand out to her and relieve my held breath when she eventually slides her hand in mine. She has trust issues, control issues, as she should, but I will teach her, I will show her that I am no threat, that I will never harm her.
“Come on, let’s get you into bed and lie you down. It’s not a very long flight.”
“Are you just trying to get me into bed?” She asks but her voice doesn’t have its normal snarky attitude when she’s being sarcastic. It’s full of pain and unwellness. Wariness floats around in my head but I push it aside. It’s normal to feel sickness from flights and some even have a large fear of it, but what if it’s more?
I get the cabin door open, steering Nikki into the direction of the soft queen-sized bed. I’ve never actually used this bed, my mind is always elsewhere when I am flying, always on business. But when I get Nikki into the bed and lay her down, nothing stops me from lying beside her soft and curvy form, as she shuts her eyes and blesses me with a warm smile.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing. It’s normal to feel sick at times. Although, I wonder if there is anything else going on with you that is causing you to feel this way.”
This gets her attention. She peeks her eyes open, allowing her deep blue irises to pull me straight into her web.
“What are you talking about?”
“I just mean– “
“I know exactly what you are talking about Bronson’s. Are you conveniently trying to ask me if I’m pregnant?” My silence is her answer. “Unbelievable.”
“Nikki, I just mean that in your past life it may have been something you didn’t think twice about and– “
“For your information asshole, it’s been well over a year since I’ve even had sex, but I’d love to hear more about your judging.”
Sh*t, I didn’t mean for this to be an augment. I haven’t known Nikki long enough, but I feel as though I should know her well enough to know she wouldn’t be stupid enough to fall into something she couldn’t control.
“I’m sorry Nikki.” She doesn’t say anything else to me. Just shakes her head and turns over in the bed, painfully giving me the silent treatment. I have ticked off enough women in my life to know that silenced sound, is actually deafening but this is the first time I care deeply for what it could mean on the other side.
Standing, I give her one last look and when she still doesn’t turn around, I exit the cabin, hating that I’ve just given her permission to place her walls back up.